Application tool and application method

Abstract

To provide a coating jig and a coating method by which a stable small amount of liquid can be applied to a fine hole, a fine shaft, etc.SOLUTION: A coating jig 1 includes a coating needle 10 that includes a cylindrical base portion 2, which is immersed in a liquid (an oil M) and to which the oil M adheres, and a projection 3 formed so as to project from a tip 21 of the base portion 2, and that applies the oil M to a to-be-coated object (a hole portion 102) by introducing the oil M, adhering to the base portion 2, to the projection 3. In the coating jig 1, a liquid reservoir portion 6 formed by reducing an outer-shape width of the base portion 2 in a direction perpendicular to an extending direction of the base portion 2 and capable of holding the oil M is provided in the base portion 2 and away from the projection 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a coating jig for coating a minute amount of liquid on an object to be coated, and a coating method using the coating jig. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, as a micro-lubrication device for lubricating a lubricating point, Patent Document 1 discloses a device that brings the tip of an applicator needle into contact with a grease film whose thickness is controlled by a squeegee to scoop up the grease, and then presses the tip of the applicator needle against the grease-carrying surface of a ball bearing to transfer the grease. Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses a needle-type dispenser coating needle in which a protrusion having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the needle tip is provided at the needle tip, and a liquid transfer method. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2004-286061 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2010-207703 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in Patent Documents 1 and 2, it is difficult to stably apply a minute amount of liquid to a coating target object such as a fine hole or a fine shaft. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The application jig comprises a cylindrical base that is immersed in a liquid and to which the liquid adheres, and a protrusion formed by protruding from the tip of the base, and has a application needle that guides the liquid adhered to the base to the protrusion to apply the liquid to an object to be applied, and the base is provided with a liquid reservoir portion spaced from the protrusion, the liquid reservoir portion being formed by reducing the outer width of the base in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the base extends, and capable of holding the liquid.

[0006] The coating method includes a coating needle having a cylindrical base to which the liquid is immersed and adheres, a protrusion formed by protruding from the tip of the base, and a liquid reservoir provided on the base capable of holding the liquid, the method comprising the steps of: immersing the base including the liquid reservoir in a liquid tank in which the liquid is stored, thereby adhering the liquid to the base including the liquid reservoir and retaining the liquid in the liquid reservoir; moving the base including the liquid reservoir of the coating needle from within the liquid tank to outside the liquid tank and removing the liquid to be applied; and a coating step of bringing the protrusion into contact with an object to be coated, and applying the liquid guided from the liquid reservoir to the protrusion to the object to be coated. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a coating jig according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section of a liquid tank of a coating jig. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an operation of the application jig. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an operation of the application jig. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an operation of the application jig. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the applicator applies liquid to a hole. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a coating jig according to a second embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the applicator applies liquid to a shaft. [Figure 9]FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a coating jig according to a third embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the application jig applies application to a ball bearing. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a coating jig according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the application jig is removed from the liquid tank. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, in each drawing, the dimensions and scale of each part are appropriately different from the actual ones. Furthermore, the embodiments described below are preferred specific examples, and various technically preferable limitations are attached, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments unless otherwise stated in the following description to the effect that the present invention is specifically limited.

[0009] 1. First embodiment Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a coating jig 1 according to the first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section of a liquid tank 4 of the coating jig 1. The applicator 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0010] Here, as shown in FIG. 1, for convenience of explanation, an XYZ coordinate system is set for the application jig 1. Specifically, the upper direction in the drawing is the upward direction, and the lower direction in the drawing is the downward direction. This up-down direction is the Z axis, the upward direction is the +Z direction, and the downward direction is the -Z direction. Moreover, the direction perpendicular to the Z axis and in which a liquid reservoir section 6 described later is formed is the +X direction, and the opposite direction is the -X direction. Moreover, the +X direction and the -X direction are combined to form the X axis. Moreover, the axis perpendicular to the X axis and the Z axis is the Y axis. The right direction when a liquid reservoir section 6 described later is viewed from the front is the +Y direction, and the opposite direction, the left direction, is the -Y direction.

[0011] The application jig 1 of this embodiment is a jig used when applying oil such as liquid lubricant to a precision component such as a watch. Specifically, the application jig 1 is a jig that applies oil to minute holes installed in a base plate or the like that constitutes the watch. In this case, the holes are the objects to which the oil is applied. The application of oil by the application jig 1 reduces friction with, for example, the shaft of a gear installed in the hole.

[0012] The amount of material applied to the hole is very small, and problems will occur if the amount is too small or too large. Therefore, the applicator 1 is required to apply a stable, very small amount of material. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the applicator 1 of this embodiment generally includes a coating needle 10, a liquid tank 4, and a packing 5. The coating needle 10 includes a base 2 and a protrusion 3.

[0013] The base 2 is a member to which oil adheres when immersed in a liquid tank 4 described later, and is formed in a solid cylindrical shape. The protrusion 3 is a member formed to protrude from the tip 21 of the base 2 in the extension direction (-Z direction) of the base 2, and applies the oil M guided from the base 2 to an object to be applied. Specifically, the protrusion 3 in this embodiment is formed at the tip 21 of the base 2 in a solid cylindrical shape with an outer shape (diameter) smaller than the outer diameter (diameter) of the base 2.

[0014] The base 2 is provided with a liquid reservoir 6. The liquid reservoir 6 is formed by decreasing the outer width in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction (-Z direction) of the base 2 (direction along the X-axis), is capable of holding oil as liquid, and is provided away from the protrusion 3. In detail, the liquid reservoir 6 is provided in a concave shape on the outer circumferential surface 22 which is the outer surface of the base 2. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the liquid reservoir 6 has a concave shape that is an inverted triangle when viewed from the +X direction.

[0015] In addition, a slit-like groove 7 is formed on the outer peripheral surface 22 of the base 2 from the lower apex of the inverted triangle that forms the liquid reservoir 6 to the tip 21 of the base 2, connecting the liquid reservoir 6 and the groove 7. When viewed from the vertical direction (+X direction), the groove 7 is formed to be smaller than the outer width of the liquid reservoir 6. When viewed from the vertical direction (+X direction), the connection portion of the liquid reservoir 6 with the groove 7 is formed into a funnel shape. As a result, the oil that has accumulated in the liquid reservoir 6 flows downward via the groove 7.

[0016] The liquid reservoir 6 and groove 7 are formed to a uniform depth from the outer peripheral surface 22. The groove 7 formed in the tip 21 is also formed to a similar depth as the depth from the outer peripheral surface 22, and is connected to the protrusion 3. In this embodiment, the liquid reservoir 6 and groove 7 are formed to a uniform depth from the outer peripheral surface 22, but the present invention is not limited to this and may be formed to a non-uniform depth.

[0017] Here, the viscosity of the oil M in this embodiment is, for example, 50 to 5000 mpa·s. The minute amount of oil to be poured in this embodiment is, for example, 0.01 to 0.10 μl.

[0018] The dimensions of the application needle 10, the liquid reservoir 6, etc. that realize the above amount will be described below. In this embodiment, the diameter A of the outer peripheral surface 22 of the base 2 is, for example, 1 mm. The width B of the groove 7 is, for example, 0.1 mm. The diameter C of the protrusion 3 is, for example, 0.5 mm. The volume of the inverted triangle of the liquid reservoir 6 is processed with its outer shape and depth determined according to the predetermined amount to be applied. A laser processing machine is used to form the liquid reservoir 6 and the groove 7.

[0019] The shapes and dimensions of the liquid reservoir 6 and the groove 7 are shown as examples, and may be determined according to the amount of coating to be applied to the object. The processing method is not limited to the laser processing machine. Similarly, the diameter C of the protrusion 3 and the length along the Z-axis may be set according to the hole diameter and length of the hole 102 (described later) that is the object to be coated.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 2, the liquid vat 4 stores oil M as the liquid to be applied inside a hollow cylindrical housing 41. The application needle 10 (base 2) is inserted through the liquid vat 4 in a direction along the Z axis, and is arranged and configured to be slidable in the direction along the Z axis by a drive mechanism (not shown). In the housing 41 of the liquid vat 4, packings 5 ​​are arranged in the vertical holes 42 through which the base 2 passes. The provision of the packings 5 ​​prevents liquid leakage from the holes 42 through which the liquid vat 4 passes when the base 2 slides through the liquid vat 4.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section of the liquid tank 4 of the applicator 1, and is also a schematic cross-sectional diagram explaining the operation of the applicator 1. Similarly to FIG. 2, FIGS. 3 to 5 are schematic cross-sectional diagrams explaining the operation of the applicator 1. In detail, FIG. 2 shows a state in which the base 2 is located at the initial position. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the base 2 has moved from the initial position to the supply position. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the base 2 has moved from the supply position to the initial position. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the oil M supplied to the liquid reservoir 6 flows through the groove 7 and accumulates in the protrusion 3 with respect to the base 2 that has moved from the supply position to the initial position. In other words, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which the supplied oil M can be applied to the object to be applied. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional diagram explaining a state in which the applicator 1 applies oil to the hole 102 as the object to be applied. The operation of the applicator 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0022] The coating needle 10 (base portion 2) is slidable (movable) between an initial position shown in Fig. 2 and a supply position shown in Fig. 3 as the position of the coating needle 10 relative to the liquid tank 4. In this embodiment, the movement of the coating needle 10 is performed by a drive mechanism (not shown).

[0023] The initial position is a position where the liquid reservoir 6 formed in the base 2 is exposed below the liquid tank 4 (in the -Z direction), and is also the position in the height direction (direction along the Z axis) of the applicator 1 relative to the liquid tank 4 when applying oil M to an object to be applied. The supply position is a position where the liquid reservoir 6 of the base 2 moves into the liquid tank 4 and the oil M to be applied is deposited in the liquid reservoir 6. In addition, at the supply position, the tip 21 of the base 2 is exposed below (in the -Z direction) from the liquid tank 4.

[0024] Next, the operation of the applicator 1 and the application method will be described. When the drive mechanism moves the base 2 from the initial position shown in Fig. 2 to the replenishing position shown in Fig. 3, the liquid reservoir 6 is immersed in the liquid tank 4 in which the oil M as a liquid is stored. The oil M stored inside the liquid tank 4 adheres to the liquid reservoir 6 located inside the liquid tank 4 and is retained in the liquid reservoir 6. The oil M also adheres to the outer peripheral surface 22 and groove 7 of the base 2 located inside the liquid tank 4. This series of operations corresponds to a liquid adhering and retaining step in the coating method in which the liquid reservoir 6 is caused to retain the coating liquid (oil M).

[0025] Next, when the drive mechanism moves the base 2 from the replenishing position shown in FIG. 3 to the initial position shown in FIG. 4, the oil M for application adhering to the liquid reservoir 6 moves while being held in the liquid reservoir 6. This operation makes it possible to remove the oil M for application from the liquid tank 4. Note that the oil M adhering to the outer peripheral surface 22 of the base 2 is scraped off by the packing 5 when it moves to the initial position and remains in the liquid tank 4. This series of operations corresponds to the removal step of removing the liquid (oil M) for application from the liquid tank 4 by moving the base 2 including the liquid reservoir 6 of the application needle 10 to the outside of the liquid tank 4 in the application method.

[0026] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 6, an object to which oil M is applied using the application jig 1 is a hole 102 of a bearing 101 installed on a main plate 100 constituting a timepiece. A gear shaft (not shown) is inserted into this hole 102. The diameter C (see Fig. 2) of the protrusion 3 in this embodiment is formed to be smaller than the hole diameter of the hole 102.

[0027] When the base 2 moves from the supply position to the initial position, at the same time, as shown in Figure 5, the oil M held in the liquid reservoir 6 flows from the liquid reservoir 6 through the groove 7 and accumulates between the tip 21 and the protrusion 3.

[0028] As a method of applying oil to the hole 102, the applicator 1 with the oil M pooled between the tip 21 and the protrusion 3 is moved to be positioned directly above the hole 102 of the bearing 101. Next, the applicator 1 is lowered, and the protrusion 3 is inserted into the hole 102, so that the protrusion 3 comes into contact with the hole 102. This operation causes the oil M pooled between the tip 21 and the protrusion 3 to adhere to the inner circumferential surface 103 of the hole 102. Thereafter, the applicator 1 is raised and returned to its original position, completing the application.

[0029] This series of operations corresponds to a coating step in the coating method, in which the protrusion 3 is brought into contact with the object to be coated (hole 102) and the liquid (oil M) guided from the liquid reservoir 6 to the protrusion 3 is coated onto the object to be coated (hole 102). Note that the coating step in this embodiment also includes an operation of causing the liquid (oil M) to flow from the liquid reservoir 6 to the protrusion 3 via the groove 7 provided between the liquid reservoir 6 and the protrusion 3.

[0030] According to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

[0031] The applicator 1 of this embodiment has a coating needle 10 including a cylindrical base 2 that is immersed in oil M as a liquid and to which the oil M adheres, and a protrusion 3 formed by protruding from a tip 21 of the base 2. The coating needle 10 guides the oil M adhered to the base 2 to the protrusion 3, and applies the oil M to a hole 102 as an object to be coated. The base 2 has a liquid reservoir 6 capable of holding the oil M, which is formed by reducing the outer width of the base 2 in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction (-Z direction) of the base 2 (direction along the X axis) and is provided at a distance from the protrusion 3. The base 2 between the liquid reservoir 6 and the protrusion 3 has a groove 7 that guides the oil M in the liquid reservoir 6 to the protrusion 3, and the groove 7 is formed smaller than the outer width of the liquid reservoir 6 when viewed from the vertical direction (+X direction). With this configuration, the liquid reservoir 6 and groove 7 provided in the base 2 allow the oil M held in the liquid reservoir 6 to flow (guide) through the groove 7 to reach the protrusion 3, allowing a stable, minute amount of liquid to be applied to the hole 102, which becomes a fine hole in the object to be coated.

[0032] The application jig 1 of this embodiment has a liquid tank 4 for storing oil M, and the application needle 10 is arranged so that the base 2 can slide through the liquid tank 4, and a gasket 5 is arranged in the hole portion 42 through which the liquid tank 4 is inserted. With this configuration, even when the base 2 is inserted through the liquid tank 4 and slid, it is possible to prevent liquid leakage (oil leakage) from the hole 42 through which the liquid tank 4 is inserted.

[0033] In the applicator 1 of the present embodiment, the liquid reservoir 6 is provided on the outer surface of the base 2 in a concave shape. With this configuration, the liquid reservoir 6 can hold a minute amount of oil M. In addition, the minute amount of liquid to be held by the volume of the concave shape can be set.

[0034] In the application jig 1 of the present embodiment, when the liquid reservoir 6 is viewed from the vertical direction (+X direction), the connection portion of the liquid reservoir 6 with the groove 7 is formed in a funnel shape. This configuration allows the oil M held in the liquid reservoir 6 to easily flow into the groove 7.

[0035] In the applicator 1 of the present embodiment, the protrusion 3 is formed in a cylindrical shape. With this configuration, the protrusion 3 can be inserted into the hole 102, which is a minute hole in the object to be coated, from above the hole 102, and a minute amount of oil M can be coated.

[0036] The coating method of this embodiment includes a liquid adhesion and retention process in which oil M is retained in the liquid reservoir 6, a removal process in which the base 2 including the liquid reservoir 6 of the coating needle 10 is removed from within the liquid tank 4 to the outside of the liquid tank 4, and a coating process in which the protrusion 3 is brought into contact with the object to be coated (hole 102) and the oil M guided from the liquid reservoir 6 to the protrusion 3 is applied to the hole 102. This application method makes it possible to apply a stable and minute amount of oil M to the minute holes 102 that are the object to be applied.

[0037] In the coating method of this embodiment, the liquid adhesion and retention process involves inserting the base 2 including the liquid reservoir 6 of the coating needle 10 into the liquid tank 4 to immerse it, and as the base 2 slides, the oil M adheres to the base 2 including the liquid reservoir 6 and the oil M for coating is retained in the liquid reservoir 6. This application method makes it possible to hold a specific minute amount of oil M according to the capacity of the liquid reservoir 6.

[0038] In the coating method of the present embodiment, coating oil M is caused to flow from the liquid reservoir 6 to the protrusion 3 through the groove 7 provided between the liquid reservoir 6 and the protrusion 3 in the coating step. This application method allows a minute amount of oil M to be delivered accurately to the protrusions 3.

[0039] 2. Second embodiment Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a coating jig 1A according to the second embodiment, Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the coating jig 1A applies coating to a shaft 111. With reference to FIG. 7, the application jig 1A will be described.

[0040] The applicator 1A of this embodiment is different from the applicator 1 of the first embodiment in the liquid reservoir 6A, groove 7A, and protrusion 3A of the base 2A. Among these, the biggest difference is the protrusion 3A. The rest is configured similarly to the applicator 1 of the first embodiment. Note that similarly configured parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

[0041] The base 2A of this embodiment is different from the base 2 of the first embodiment in the shape of the liquid reservoir 6A. The liquid reservoir 6A of this embodiment is pentagonal like the shape of a baseball home plate, and one corner of the pentagon is connected to the groove 7A. The groove 7A is formed up to the tip 21A of the base 2A.

[0042] In this embodiment, the tip 21A of the base 2A is provided with a first extension portion that extends in a direction intersecting the extension direction (-Z direction) of the base 2A. In this embodiment, the tip 21A of the base 2A is provided with a first extension portion that extends in a +X direction that is perpendicular to the direction along the Z axis, which is a direction intersecting the extension direction (-Z direction) of the base 2A. In this embodiment, this first extension portion is referred to as a protrusion 3A.

[0043] In addition, the first extension portion may extend in an intersecting direction slightly downward (-Z direction) from the +X direction rather than in the perpendicular direction (+X direction), and the angle of intersection may be changed depending on how the coating is applied to the object to be coated.

[0044] The protrusion 3A (first extension) of this embodiment is configured as a generally rectangular thin plate. For example, in this embodiment, the diameter D of the base 2A is, for example, 0.7 mm. The protrusion 3A is rectangular with a length E in the direction along the Y axis and a length F in the direction along the X axis of, for example, 1.0 mm, and a length G (thickness) in the direction along the Z axis of, for example, 0.2 mm.

[0045] The tip 31 of the protrusion 3A (first extending portion) in the +X direction is provided with an arc-shaped cutout 32. The diameter of the arc-shaped cutout 32 is formed slightly larger than the diameter of a shaft 111 (see FIG. 8) to be described later, which is the object to be coated in this embodiment.

[0046] A liquid holding portion 33 that forms a groove for holding liquid (oil M) is formed above the cutout portion 32 (in the +Z direction). The liquid holding portion 33 is concentric with the cutout portion 32 and has a diameter larger than that of the cutout portion 32. In addition, a groove portion 34 that connects the liquid holding portion 33 and the groove portion 7A is formed in a slit shape in the protrusion portion 3A.

[0047] The shape and dimensions of base 2A and protrusion 3A are merely examples, and the shape and dimensions may be determined according to the hole diameter of shaft 111, which will be described later as the object to be coated, and the amount of coating to be applied to the object to be coated.

[0048] The operation of applicator 1A and the application method will be described with reference to FIGS. The coating jig 1A of this embodiment operates in the same manner as the coating jig 1 of the first embodiment. However, the difference is in the operation in the coating step. The explanation of the similar operations will be simplified.

[0049] The application needle 10A (base portion 2A) is slidable (movable) between an initial position and a supply position by a drive mechanism, as in the first embodiment. The position of the application needle 10A with respect to the liquid tank 4 shown in Fig. 7 is a position where the liquid reservoir portion 6A is exposed below the liquid tank 4 (-Z direction), as in the first embodiment, and is the initial position. Also, as shown in Fig. 8, the initial position is the position of the application needle 10A in the height direction (direction along the Z axis) with respect to the liquid tank 4 when applying oil M to the object to be applied.

[0050] Then, a liquid attachment and retention step is performed. More specifically, the application needle 10A moves from the initial position to the replenishing position, so that the oil M is attached to the liquid reservoir 6A and retained in the liquid reservoir 6A. Next, a removal step is performed. More specifically, the application needle 10A moves from the replenishing position to the initial position, so that the base 2A including the liquid reservoir 6A of the application needle 10A is moved from within the liquid tank 4 to the outside of the liquid tank 4, so that the oil M to be applied is removed from the liquid tank 4.

[0051] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 8, an object to which oil M is applied using the application jig 1A is a shaft 111 that is installed on a main plate 110 that constitutes a timepiece. A hollow shaft (not shown) is inserted into this shaft 111.

[0052] Next, the application process is carried out. When the base 2A moves from the supply position to the initial position, the oil M held in the liquid reservoir 6A flows from the liquid reservoir 6A through the grooves 7A and 34 and accumulates in the liquid holding portion 33, as shown in Fig. 8. In this way, the application process also includes a state in which the liquid (oil M) flows from the liquid reservoir 6A to the protrusion 3A (liquid holding portion 33) through the grooves 7A and 34 provided between the liquid reservoir 6A and the protrusion 3A (liquid holding portion 33).

[0053] Then, in the application step, the applicator 1A with oil M pooled in the liquid holding portion 33 is moved and positioned directly beside the shaft 111. Next, the applicator 1A is moved horizontally to bring the notch 32 of the protrusion 3A into contact with the outer circumferential surface 112 of the shaft 111 from the side. This action causes the oil M pooled in the liquid holding portion 33 to adhere to the outer circumferential surface 112 of the shaft 111. Thereafter, the applicator 1A is moved laterally and returned to its original position, completing the application.

[0054] According to the present embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

[0055] In the applicator 1A of this embodiment, the protrusion 3A has a first extension portion that extends in a direction intersecting the extending direction (-Z direction) of the base 2A. In this embodiment, this first extension portion is the protrusion 3A. A tip 31 of the first extension portion (protrusion 3A) has an arc-shaped notch 32. With this configuration, when the object to be coated is a fine shaft (shaft 111), a minute amount of oil M can be coated by bringing notched portion 32 into contact with outer circumferential surface 112 of shaft 111 from the lateral direction of shaft 111. In this manner, coating jig 1A can coat a stable minute amount of liquid (oil M) from a direction intersecting the extension direction of shaft 111 by protrusion portion 3A.

[0056] 3. Third embodiment Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a coating jig 1B according to the third embodiment, Fig. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the coating jig 1B applies coating to a ball bearing 121. With reference to FIG. 9, the application jig 1B will be described.

[0057] Applicator 1B of the present embodiment is different from applicator 1 of the first embodiment in that it has a protrusion 3B protruding from tip 21 of base 2. Other than that, applicator 1B is configured similarly to applicator 1 of the first embodiment. Similar reference numerals are attached to similarly configured parts, and description thereof will be omitted.

[0058] In this embodiment, the tip 21 of the base 2 is provided with a second extension portion that extends in the extension direction (-Z direction) of the base 2. In this embodiment, this second extension portion is referred to as the protrusion 3B. In this embodiment, the protrusion 3B (second extension portion) has acute angle portions 36, 37 at its tip portion that are bifurcated. In this embodiment, the slit portion 35 that forms the gap between the bifurcated portions reaches the tip 21 of the base 2.

[0059] In other words, the protrusion 3B is provided at the tip 21 with acute angle portions 36 and 37, which are two right-angled triangles of a thin plate, facing back to back with a predetermined gap (the slit width of the slit portion 35). In other words, the protrusion 3B is formed in the shape of an isosceles triangle of a thin plate, and a gap is formed from the apex angle to the tip 21 in the shape of a slit.

[0060] In this embodiment, the slit portion 35 of the protrusion 3B, which is a bifurcated gap, reaches the tip portion 21 of the base portion 2, but it may reach only partway. In this case, the two acute angle portions 36, 37 are connected. In this case, a groove may be provided to allow the flowing oil M from the groove portion 7 to flow into the slit portion of the protrusion 3B.

[0061] In this embodiment, the width H of each of the acute angle portions 36, 37 at the tip 21 in the direction along the Y axis is, for example, 0.3 mm. The length J of each of the acute angle portions 36, 37 in the direction along the Z axis is, for example, 1.0 mm. The gap K of the slit portion 35 is, for example, 0.2 mm.

[0062] The shape and dimensions of the protrusion 3B (second extending portion) are merely examples, and the shape and dimensions may be determined according to the amount of coating to be applied to an object to be coated.

[0063] The operation of applicator 1B and the application method will be described with reference to FIGS. The applicator 1B of this embodiment operates in a similar manner to the applicator 1 of the first embodiment, and the description of the similar operations will be simplified.

[0064] The application needle 10B (base 2) is slidable (movable) between an initial position and a supply position by a drive mechanism, as in the first embodiment. The position of the application needle 10B with respect to the liquid tank 4 shown in Fig. 9 is a position where the liquid reservoir 6 is exposed below the liquid tank 4 (-Z direction), as in the first embodiment, and is the initial position. Also, as shown in Fig. 9, the initial position is the position of the application needle 10B in the height direction (direction along the Z axis) with respect to the liquid tank 4 when applying oil M to the object to be applied.

[0065] Then, a liquid attachment and retention step is performed. Although not shown in detail, similar to the first embodiment, the application needle 10B moves from the initial position to the supply position, so that the oil M is attached to the liquid reservoir 6 and is retained in the liquid reservoir 6. Next, a removal step is performed. More specifically, similar to the first embodiment, the application needle 10B moves from the supply position to the initial position, so that the base 2 including the liquid reservoir 6 of the application needle 10B is moved from within the liquid tank 4 to the outside of the liquid tank 4, so that the oil M to be applied is removed from the liquid tank 4.

[0066] In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the object to which oil M is applied using the application jig 1B is a plurality of ball bearings 121 that constitute an oscillating weight receiver 120 that receives an oscillating weight (not shown) that constitutes a timepiece.

[0067] Next, the application process is carried out. When the base 2 moves from the supply position to the initial position, the oil M held in the liquid reservoir 6 flows from the liquid reservoir 6 through the groove 7 and accumulates at the -Z direction tips of the slit 35 and the acute angle portions 36, 37, as shown in Fig. 10. In this way, the application process also includes a state in which the liquid (oil M) flows from the liquid reservoir 6 to the protrusion 3B through the groove 7 and the slit 35 provided between the liquid reservoir 6 and the protrusion 3B.

[0068] Then, in the coating process, the coating jig 1B in a state in which the oil M has accumulated at the -Z direction tip portions of the slit portion 35 and the acute angle portions 36, 37 is moved to a position directly above the ball bearing 121. Next, the coating jig 1B is lowered, and the -Z direction tip portions of the protrusion portion 3B (acute angle portions 36, 37) are inserted into the oscillating weight receiver 120 and brought into contact with the ball bearing 121.

[0069] This operation causes the oil M accumulated at the -Z direction tips of the slit portion 35 and the acute angle portions 36 and 37 to adhere to the ball bearing 121. Thereafter, the application jig 1B is raised and returned to its original position, completing the application of the oil M to one ball bearing 121. If it is necessary to apply the oil M to another ball bearing 121, the application method described above is repeated to apply the oil.

[0070] According to the present embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

[0071] In the applicator 1B of this embodiment, the protrusion 3B has a second extension portion that extends in the extension direction (-Z direction) of the base 2. In this embodiment, this second extension portion is the protrusion 3B. The second extension portion (protrusion 3B) has acute angle portions 36, 37 at its tip that are bifurcated. In this embodiment, a slit portion 35 is provided to bifurcate the protrusion. With this configuration, when the object to be coated is a fine bearing or the like, a minute amount of oil M can be coated by bringing the tips of the acute-angled portions 36, 37 into contact with the ball bearing 121 from above the ball bearing 121. In this way, the coating jig 1B can coat a stable minute amount of liquid (oil M) from above the ball bearing 121 by the protrusion 3B.

[0072] 4. Fourth embodiment Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a coating jig 1C according to the fourth embodiment. Fig. 11 also shows a state in which the coating jig 1C is immersed in a liquid tank 8. Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the coating jig 1C is removed from the liquid tank 8. The application jig 1C will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0073] 11, compared to the coating jig 1 of the first embodiment, the coating jig 1C of the present embodiment does not include the liquid tank 4 of the first embodiment. The liquid tank 8 of the present embodiment is configured as a separate body from the coating jig 1C. The coating jig 1C includes only a coating needle 10C.

[0074] The application needle 10C of this embodiment includes a base 2C and a protrusion 3C. The base 2C is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the protrusion 3C is formed by protruding from a tip 21C of the base 2C in the extending direction of the base 2C (-Z direction). The protrusion 3C is formed in a cylindrical shape with an outer shape (diameter) smaller than the outer diameter (diameter) of the base 2C.

[0075] The base 2C includes a liquid reservoir 6C. The liquid reservoir 6C is formed by reducing the outer width of the base 2C in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction (-Z direction) of the base 2C (direction along the X-axis), is capable of holding oil M as a liquid, and is provided at a distance from the protrusion 3C.

[0076] In detail, the liquid reservoir 6C is provided in a concave shape on the outer peripheral surface 22C which is the outer surface of the base 2C. In this embodiment, the concave shape of the liquid reservoir 6C is formed by cutting so as to reduce the axial diameter toward the center of the base 2C. In this embodiment, the liquid tank 8 is formed separately from the applicator 1C. The liquid tank 8 stores oil M as the liquid to be applied therein.

[0077] Next, the operation of the applicator 1C and the application method will be described. 11, the base 2C including the liquid reservoir 6C of the application needle 10C and the protrusion 3C are immersed in a liquid tank 8 that stores oil M. This causes the oil M to adhere to the liquid reservoir 6C. This operation corresponds to the liquid adhesion and retention step of the application method.

[0078] 12, the application jig 1C immersed in the liquid tank 8 is removed by moving the base 2C outside the liquid tank 8. This operation corresponds to the removal step of the application method. When the application jig 1C is removed from the liquid tank 8, the oil M adhering to the liquid reservoir 6C flows along the outer peripheral surface 23C of the base 2C between the liquid reservoir 6C and the protrusion 3C, and the oil M accumulates between the tip 21C and the protrusion 3C.

[0079] As a coating method when the object to be coated is the hole 102 as in the first embodiment, the coating jig 1C with the oil M accumulated in the tip 21C and the protrusion 3C is moved to perform the coating process. Note that the coating process is performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment shown in Fig. 6, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0080] Instead of the protrusion 3C of this embodiment, protrusions substantially similar to the protrusions 3A and 3B of the second and third embodiments may be provided. According to this embodiment, although the effects of the first embodiment are not achieved to some extent, substantially the same effects can be achieved.

[0081] 5. Variation 1 The liquid reservoir 6 in the first embodiment has a triangular shape that is an inverted triangle as a concave shape when viewed from the +X direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any shape may be used as long as the connecting portion of the liquid reservoir 6 with the groove 7 is formed into a funnel shape. For example, the shape may be a square or pentagonal shape, or an ellipse shape. The shape may also be a combination of multiple shapes. This also applies to the second and third embodiments.

[0082] 6. Variation 2 The protrusion 3 in the first embodiment is formed in a cylindrical shape, but is not limited to this and may be formed in a tapered shape that narrows toward the tip, and the same effects as those of the first embodiment are achieved.

[0083] 7. Variation 3 In the first to fourth embodiments, the liquid applied by the applicator 1, 1A, 1B, 1C is oil such as lubricating oil. However, the liquid is not limited to this. An adhesive, a molding agent, or the like may also be applied as the liquid. [Explanation of symbols]

[0084] 1,1A,1B,1C...application jig, 2,2A,2C...base, 3,3A,3B,3C...projection, 4...liquid tank, 5...packing, 6,6A,6C...liquid reservoir, 7,7A ...Groove, 8...Liquid tank, 10,10A,10B,10C...Applying needle, 21,21A,21C...Tip, 22,22C...Outer peripheral surface, 23C...Outer peripheral surface, 31...First extension part Tip portion, 32...notch portion, 33...liquid holding portion, 34...groove portion, 35...slit portion, 36, 37...acute angle portion, 41...housing, 42...hole portion, 100...base plate, 101...bearing, 102...hole portion, 103...inner surface, 110...base plate, 111...shaft, 112...outer surface, 120...oscillating weight receiver, 121...ball bearing, M...oil as liquid.

Claims

1. A cylindrical base portion is immersed in the liquid and the liquid adheres to the cylindrical base portion. and a protrusion formed on the base, the liquid adhering to the base being guided to the protrusion. A coating tool having a coating needle for coating the liquid on a coating target, The base portion has an outer width reduced in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the base portion. a liquid reservoir portion capable of holding the liquid is provided at a distance from the protrusion portion, The base portion between the liquid reservoir and the protrusion is provided with a liquid reservoir for supplying the liquid to the protrusion. A groove for guiding liquid is provided. the groove is formed to be smaller than an outer width of the liquid reservoir when viewed in the vertical direction, When the liquid reservoir is viewed from the vertical direction, the connection portion of the liquid reservoir with the groove is a funnel. A coating jig formed in a shape of

2. A cylindrical base portion to which the liquid adheres when immersed in the liquid, and a and a protrusion formed on the base, the liquid adhering to the base being guided to the protrusion. A coating tool having a coating needle for coating the liquid on a coating target, The base portion has an outer width reduced in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the base portion. a liquid reservoir portion capable of holding the liquid is provided at a distance from the protrusion portion, The protrusion portion includes a first extending portion extending in a direction intersecting a direction in which the base portion extends, The tip of the first extension portion is provided with a circular arc-shaped notch. jig.

3. The applicator according to claim 1 or 2, The protrusion portion includes a second extension portion extending in a direction in which the base portion extends, The second extension portion has a bifurcated acute angle portion at a tip end. jig.

4. An application tool according to claim 1 or claim 2, A liquid tank for storing the liquid is provided, The application needle is disposed so that the base portion is slidably inserted through the liquid tank. A coating jig characterized in that a packing is placed in the hole.

5. An applicator as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, The liquid reservoir is provided in a concave shape on the outer surface of the base.

6. An applicator as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, The protrusion is formed in a cylindrical shape or a tapered shape. A dispensing jig.

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